Hampton Group Plays Apollo

A group of local hip-hop dancers compete against other amateurs at the famed New York City theater.

Six local girls were after total domination Wednesday when they traveled to New York City to compete on "Showtime at the Apollo."

The Hampton-based hip-hop dance group -- Total Domination -- had been practicing and getting costumes and travel arrangements together for the big performance at the Apollo Theater in Harlem.

This most recent incarnation of the legendary variety show airs at 10 p.m. Saturdays on WTVZ-TV. (The girls don't know yet when their episode will air.) The crowd decides the fate of the amateur hopefuls with cheers or boos, and has been known to be brutally honest, even with celebrities. Some superstars who got a start on the theater's Amateur Night program include Billie Holiday, Michael Jackson, Lauryn Hill and Ella Fitzgerald -- a Newport News native.

This week, the girls -- Jasmine Williams, Sha-Quila Hawks, Diamond Taylor, Jasmine Chavers, Kandice Bryant and Loren FitzPatrick -- were just really excited about being on the show.

"I was so happy (when we found out)," said Bryant.

"Y'all were screaming and running all around the world," said Alesia Tucker, who basically serves as the group's adviser.

Tucker, 44, used to work with a dance group at Y.H. Thomas Community Center in Hampton a few years ago. That relationship ended over personality conflicts. Her current group has about 20 members, who range in age from fourth grade to adult. Last week, half of the Apollo group practiced in the front room of Tucker's business, Beads Etc. in Hampton.

Chavers, FitzPatrick and Bryant kicked and popped for two minutes and 15 seconds to a mix of Crystal Waters' "Gypsy Woman (She's Homeless)," Missy Elliott's "Pass That Dutch" and Kelis' "Milkshake."

After practice, Bryant admitted that she was nervous about being in front of so many people. Not FitzPatrick, especially since the dancers compete and perform all the time.

"I like that. I like a lot of people," said FitzPatrick, a ninth-grader. "Ever since I was little I put on shows. I'd make fake tickets and invite people and put on shows."

"I'm just used to being shy," said Bryant.

"Kandice? Shy?" Chavers said in disbelief.

"Mom! Didn't I use to be shy?" Bryant said.

"You used to be. Not anymore," said her mom, Kim.

That's probably a good thing. The Apollo crowd can smell fear and no one ever wants to get booed and rushed off the stage. *